Mountain Warehouse posts record Christmas sales
Mountain Warehouse has experienced “record” Christmas trading with total sales up 38.2% in the six weeks to 31 December.
The outdoor clothing and equipment retailer saw its like-for-like sales climb by 33.1% in the period with online revenue increasing by 76.6%.
The company served 1.5 million customers over the festive period with bestsellers including socks, gloves, padded jackets and snow boots.
International sales surged by 43% and accounted for 33% of total sales.
The group’s sister brand Zakti, which sells ski wear, gym, yoga, running and cycling kit, also traded well.
Founded in 1997, Mountain Warehouse opened more than 30 branches in 2017 and plans to open a similar number this year. The openings will create more than 300 jobs. It now has more than 270 stores with a footprint in seven countries.
Recent UK openings include Oxford city centre and Southwold in Suffolk while those overseas include Poland, Canada and Ireland. The retailer is also planning to open its first stores in Holland and the Czech Republic in the first quarter of 2018.
Mountain Warehouse made a pre-tax profit of £19.8 million in the year to 28 February 2017 which was an increase of 22% on the prior year.
Mountain Warehouse chief executive Mark Neale said: “We had a cracking Christmas with remarkable growth across our UK stores, online and internationally.
“A business which equips customers to brave the elements will always benefit when it snows, and the December cold snap was a bit of an early Christmas present for us. Another was Black Friday, with sales reaching £2 million in a single day alone for the first time in our history.”
